Mosquito Eaters

By Karen

Last updated on May 8, 2019

You probably have seen an insect that looks like a mosquito but with much longer legs and a body that is a bit bigger. Despite having many nicknames including mosquito hawk, mosquito eater, and daddy longlegs, the real name of this insect is crane fly. And mosquitoes are not actually their main source of nutrition.

Interesting fact

The nicknames mosquito eater and mosquito hawk probably come from the fact that some crane fly larvae may feed on mosquito larvae, but this is not a regular occurrence. It is important to note that adult crane flies do not bite humans so, other than their annoying sound, they are harmless to both us and mosquitoes.

Crane flies are insects from the Tipulidae family which can be found everywhere from tropics to mountains. That is why these flies have different names all around the world. For example, in the United Kingdom, they are commonly referred to as daddy longlegs while in other places crane flies have acquired names like mosquito hawks, gallinippers, gollywhoppers, and, of course, mosquito eaters.

The adult crane fly has a very slender body with long legs that can range from 0.079 to 3.9 inches in length (2-100 millimeters). As the build of these flies is not very proportional, they are not good fliers. In fact, they often wobble when they fly as well as fly in irregular patterns which makes them quite easy to catch.

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Even though the most common names for crane flies paint them as mosquito hunters, adult crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes. Their main source of sustenance is flower nectar. They are actually physically incapable of killing mosquitoes.

These long-legged flies can, however, be harmful to plants. For this reason, they have acquired the status of an agricultural pest in many countries. Crane fly larvae often live in the very top layers of the soil and therefore eat the roots of the plants and sometimes even the leaves of the plants that are growing in this soil. This can not only stunt plant growth but can even kill the plants altogether.

Mosquito eaters do not eat mosquitos after all and, in fact, are more of a fly than a mosquito. Even though they do not bite us as mosquitoes do, they can be harmful to plants and, therefore, are still pests that need to be eliminated just as their nickname counterparts, mosquitos, do.

The lifecycle of a crane fly

The female adult crane fly carries mature eggs around which, when fertilized by a male during mating, are deposited. This deposit usually happens in wet soil, but crane fly eggs have also been found in many other areas including dry soil and the surface of bodies of water. There is no motherly care here. Unlike what is normal with vertebrates like birds and mammals, the mother just pushes the fertilized eggs out of her ovipositor and flies off.

The eggs will hatch within a week or two and the larvae then make their way towards any food source. It is at this larval stage of development that a crane fly is most destructive. Crane fly larvae, which also goes by the name of leatherjackets, are worm-like creatures with numerous hairs that latch onto the roots or shoots of a plant, deriving their nutrients from that part of the plant. This affects the growth and the quantity of produce recovered from the plant. As well as vegetation and roots, leatherjackets also feed on decaying matter and wood, small aquatic insects, invertebrates, and any decaying plant life they may encounter.

The thickness of the outer covering of the larvae of crane flies is responsible for their odd name: leatherjackets. Besides the nature of their covering, this stage of a crane fly’s life can be identified by its cylindrical shape with narrow ends, which is completely different from what is seen in mosquito larvae, which are found in bodies of water and look like small, hairy worms. The leatherjackets’ feeding habit is similar to that of a mosquito: they feed at night and rest during the daytime. This might also be considered a defense mechanism against predators which abound during the day.

In cold environments, the larvae go into hibernation during the winter season. This period is their resting phase in which the leatherjacket gets ready for its imminent transformation. Once the cold season is at its end, the larvae build themselves cocoons in which they hide and undergo metamorphosis. Then, once the season is favorable and the weather is warm again, the adult crane flies emerge from their cocoons and go off to play their own role in nature. Crane flies do not live very long. Their entire lifecycle only lasts about two weeks! If the newly-emerged crane fly is a male, it will help a female by fertilizing her eggs.

Since there are thousands of crane flies species, there are a few differences in the larval stage of development between species which are not focused on physical appearance but rather on location. While some larvae can adapt successfully to living on land, others find the water more conducive to their activities. These can be seen in swampy areas seeking potential food sources.

The ecological benefits of mosquito eaters

While the larva of a crane fly is known to cause immense damage to plants, they actually do provide some ecological benefits as well.

The biological activities of those species which live on land have been shown to improve the soil structure as well as to increase the soil’s organic matter content. The larvae of certain species of crane flies are capable of eating other harmful insects including dangerous ones like mosquitoes. Again, this is why one of the names associated with crane flies is mosquito eaters.

Some adult crane flies feed on nectar though others might not eat anything at all. What they all have in common is that they all provide a source of food for other animals like amphibians, reptiles, and some types of fish. This, in turn, provides some balance in the food chain and helps us to be sure that mosquito eaters are not simply useless insects that are flying around and annoying us.

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So, there you have it: a little introduction to crane flies a.k.a. mosquito eaters. Despite the fact that they actually do not eat mosquitoes (even though their larvae sometimes can), these flies are still pretty interesting creatures that are worth learning more about. It is only when we know more we can better understand the insects we encounter and differentiate them from mosquitoes and other pests so that we know not to harm them when we come across them.

dontbugme19

Thanks for this great breakdown! I never knew the actual name of this insect because I’d only ever heard the name “mosquito hunter”. Very surprised to find out they don’t actually eat or hunt mosquitos.

Oscar Shaw

An awesome article! I’ve long called the Crane Fly a mosquito eater and thought that was their primary source of food. I’ve always taught my kids, now adults, to avoid killing them, as I believed they protected us from mosquitoes. I’ve shared your article with my kids and their kids, so hopefully more Crane Flies will survive when they visit their respective homes.